Table-lock.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

P. J". & J. T..SENG.

TABLE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1905.

Wihmm;

flttomw NITED' STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. SENG AND JULIUS T. SENG, OF OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THESENG COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TABLE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 89,337, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed February 8, 1905. Serial No. 244,746.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. Suns and JULIUS T. SENe, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a Table-Lock, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in pedestal extension-tables, andhas particular reference to a new and improved device for automaticallydrawing the opposing pedestalsections snugly together when the table isclosed, whereby the usual unsightly crack at each side the pedestal isso reduced as to be practically imperceptible.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of a pedestal extension-table provided with our improvements, thetable being shown closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the table beingshown open. Fig. 3 is a detail in section, hereinafter referred to.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the table shown, which is in the conventional form, 1 1 designate theopposite topsections mounted upon the slides 2, these elements combiningin the usual manner to form the superstructure.

3 3 designate the opposing pedestal-sections supported upon the base, inthis instance by legs I, and connected at their upper ends to thecross-pieces 5, secured to the under sides of the slides 2. To a certaincross-piece 6 may be secured the center leg 7, designed to support thecenter of the table.

At the inner edge of each cross-piece 5 is secured an inverted-L-shapedfulcrum bracket 8, (see detail in Fig. 3,) the same having its verticalportion provided with a vertical slot 9 and below the same withscrew-holes 10. The upper or horizontal portion of this L- shapedbracket may have a threaded opening 11 formed therein, and in the samemay be adjustably mounted a fulcrum-screw 12, provided at its upper endwith a hand-wheel, by which it may be conveniently manipulated.

The said brackets are not located directly opposite each other, but arepositioned at opposite sides of the center of the pedestal-sections,and, while shown at the inner edges of the cross-piece 5 of saidsections, yet, as will be apparent, they may be mounted in positionsother than those shown. So, also, may their shape be altered, the primeobject being for them to constitute supports for a pair of levers 13.

The levers 13 by reason of the positioning of the brackets, through theslots 9 of which the levers loosely pass, extend by each other, so thatthe lever of one pedestabsection will when said pedestal-sections areclosed extend over the upper end of the other or companionpedestal-section. Cotter-pins 19 may be located in transverse openingsformed in each lever 13 and at the opposite sides of the brackets,whereby the levers are maintained in proper relative position. At theinner ends each of the two levers is provided with a loosefriction-wheel 14:, and arranged upon each pedestal-section and in thepath of the wheel 14 of that lever mounted upon the companionpedestal-section is a cam 15, the same being so shaped as to cause thefriction-wheel when brought in contact therewith, as in the act ofclosing the pedestal, to ride up the inclined face of the cam andfinally rest upon the highest point thereof, which maybe flat orslightly concaved, as desired.

To the outer extremity of each lever 13 there is pivoted, as at 16, alink 17, these links being inclined inwardly toward their lower ends andloosely connected each to a pedestalsection.

When the table is open, or partially so, as shown in Fig. 2, the deviceis wholly inactive and exerts no influence whatever upon thepedestal-sections; but as such pedestal-sections approach a closerelation, as in the act of closing, the inner free end of each lever 13will contact with and ride up and over the opposing incline of the cam15 carried by the opposite pedestal-section, and finally, when thepedestal-sections meet, or practically so, the said free ends of thelevers will rest upon the highest portion of said cams, whereby theouter ends of the levers are depressed, and consequently the links 17are lirmly forced inward, causing the pedestal sections to be squeezedtogether, whereby the unsightly crack usually occurring between saidpedestal-sections is practically eliminated or reduced to such an extentas to render it unobservable.

The adjusting-screws 12, as will be seen, constitute the fulcrums forthe levers 13, and inasmuch as they may be raised and lowered saidlevers may be caused to exert greater or less pressure upon the links17, and hence upon the pedestal-sections 3. So, also, in this mannerdoes the arrangement provide for such an adjustment as will adapt thesame for the peculiarities of that particular table to which it may beapplied.

As will be observed, the tension of the in.- ner ends of the levers uponthe cams will be suflicient to overcome the natural tendency of thetable to separate; but in order that the top-sections may be securelylocked together, whereby the table may be shifted at will, we may use inconjunction with this table-lock any desired form of table-top lock.

Various changes may be made in the details of our invention withoutdeparting from the spirit of the same, and we would have it understoodthat the invention broadly consists in the arrangement of opposinglevers at points above the pedestal-sections in conjunction with meansfor raising the inner ends of the said levers and depressing the outerends and in some form of connection between said outer ends and thepedestalsections or other contiguous parts whereby the said sections areforced together as the inner ends of the levers are operated upon.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combination, ina pedestal extensiontable, of opposite levers fulcrumed above thepedestals, the lever of one pedestal overlapping the opposite pedestal,means for raising the inner ends of said levers, and connections betweenthe outer ends of the levers and the pedestal-sections below thefulcrums of said levers.

2. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of opposite leversarranged above the pedestal-sections, means for elevating the inner endsof said levers, and connections between the outer ends of said leversand the pedestal-sections at points below the fulcrums of said levers.

3. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of opposite leversfulcrumed above the pedestals and upon the movable parts of the table,connections between the outer ends of the levers and thepedestal-sections, and means carried by each movable part of the tablefor elevating the inner ends of said levers as the pedestal-sectionsapproach each other.

t. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of fulcrums arrangedupon the pedestalsections and extending above the same, opposite leversarranged in the fulcrums and extending at each side of thepedestal-sections, cams carried by the pedestal-sections and arranged inthe paths of the free ends of the lee vers, and connections between theouter ends of the levers and the pedestal-sections at points below thefulcrums.

5. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of adjustable fulcrumsarranged above each pedestal-section, levers arranged with relation tothe fulcrums, means for raising the inner ends of the levers, andconnections between the outer ends of the levers and thepedestal-sections.

6. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of opposite leverscarried by the pedestal-sections, the lever of one section overlappingthe opposite section, means connecting the outer ends of said leverswith the pedestalsections, and means for automatically elevating theinner ends of said levers when said pedestal-sections are substantiallyclosed.

7. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of opposite levers onefulcrumed upon each pedestal-section, connections between the outer endsof said levers and the pedestal-sections, and inclined cams arranged inthe paths of the inner ends of said levers.

8. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of opposite leversfulcrumed at the inner edge of each pedestal-section, connectionsbetween the outer ends of said levers and the pedestal-sections, andmeans mounted upon each pedestal-section and in the path of the free endof the lever of the opposite pedestalsection and adapted toelevate saidfree end when said sections are normally closed.

9. The combination, in a pedestal extensiontable, of vertical keepersextending from each of the pedestal-sections, levers loosely mounted inthe keepers, connections between the outer ends of the levers and thepedestal-sections, and cams arranged upon the pedestalsections, the camof one section being in the path of the free end of the lever of theopposite section.

10. In a pedestal extension-table, the combination, of inverted-L-shapedbrackets or keepers rising from each pedestal-section and provided withopenings and above the same having threaded openings, opposite leversarranged in the openings, adjusting-screws arranged in the threadedopenings, links pivoted to the outer ends of said levers and at theirlower ends connected with the pedestalsections, and means carried byeach movable part of the table for elevating the inner ends. of saidlevers when the pedestal-sections are substantially closed.

11. The combination, in a pedestal extension-table, of theinverted-L-shaped bracket or keeper having the opening 9 and thethreaded opening 11, the levers arranged in the IIO openings 9, theadjusting-screws 12 arranged In testimony whereof We have signed our 111the openlngs 11 and bearing on the levers names to this specification 1nthe presence of IO 13, the links 17 pivoted at the outer ends of twosubscriblng Witnesses.

the levers 13 and at their lower ends to the FRANK J. SENG.pedestal-sections, the Wheels 14: at the inner JULIUS T. SENG. ends ofthe levers 13, and the cams 15 ar- Witnesses:

ranged upon each of the pedestal-sections and S. G. DOHERTY,

in the paths of said Wheels. GERARD J. BIGHL.

